Congressman Reed Won’t Accept Pay During Government Shutdown

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Chautauqua County’s Congressman says he won’t accept a paycheck while the government is shut down. Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) released a statement on Wednesday, saying that Congress has a job to do and if it can’t complete one of its primary responsibilities, it doesn’t deserve to get a paycheck. Reed is one of several lawmakers in Washington who have vowed not to accept a paycheck until the shutdown has ended.

On Tuesday, Reed voted to secure funding for Military veterans. Through a bill called the “Honoring our Promise to America’s Veterans Act”  – funding would be made immediately available for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including funding for veterans disability payments, VA home loans, the GI Bill and education training. The act is part of the House GOP’s latest strategy to extend funding for individual agencies and services that have been impacted by the shutdown, instead of approving an overall extension bill that would also include funding for Obamacare.